Indonesia's Flores Island hit by magnitude 7.7 earthquake, tsunami warning issued, residents evacuate

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake jolted the waters off the coast of Indonesia's Flores Island early Friday, triggering a tsunami warning and forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. The tremor occurred around 5:58 AM local time in the eastern Sunda Islands region.

Following the initial quake, the region experienced numerous aftershocks, with the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reporting at least 27. One significant aftershock registered a magnitude of 6.1. The epicenter was located off the northern coast of Flores Island, at a depth of approximately 20 kilometers according to EMSC, while the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a depth of 10 kilometers.

Indonesian authorities confirmed that while many residents fled their homes, no casualties have been reported thus far. Strong tremors lasting about a minute were felt in areas like Nagekeo and Bima. The national disaster management agency is assessing the situation, with reports indicating damage to some buildings in Nagekeo, where hundreds evacuated.

Neighboring countries were not significantly impacted. Australia's Tsunami Warning Centre stated that the earthquake posed no threat to the Australian mainland or nearby islands. Indonesia is situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity, experiencing earthquakes of magnitude 5 or greater roughly every two days.